2012 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum
2011 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities Slide Show
The Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is a unique career leadership-training program for high school students with disabilities, ages 16 – 21. Youth delegates are selected from their local communities to cultivate leadership, citizenship and social skills at this four-day summer program. The next Missouri Youth Leadership Forum will be held July 22 – 25, 2012.
What are the goals of the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum?
- Develop leadership skills to ensure that all youth with disabilities will realize their full potential
- Promote inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society
- Participate in policymaking or practices that affect youth people with disabilities
Why is the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum only for students with disabilities?
It is important for students with disabilities to meet other students who share similar experiences. Through the course of four days, students build pride and self-esteem and learn from each other. Youth begin building a supportive community.
The key success to the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is leadership by example. As part of the program, students meet successful adults with disabilities who share similar challenges. This framework provides an atmosphere of encouragement which helps youth realize their ability to pursue meaningful employment and become contributing members of society.
How are students selected?
Youth are selected through a statewide competitive process that seeks students with disabilities who have leadership potential. Each applicant submits a standard application, resume and three letters of recommendation.
The student delegates will represent a cross section of Missouri in terms of geography, gender, economic status, ethnicity and different types of disabilities.
What is the agenda?
- Learning and applying leadership principles
- Understanding the disability experience and sharing resources
- Assistive technology
- Building independent living skills and setting career goals
- Developing advocacy skills
What is the cost?
The Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is available to student delegates at NO COST. If you would like to help defray the cost of this program, please make your tax-deductible donation to the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum by mail to:
Services for Independent Living
Attention: Missouri Youth Leadership Forum
1401 Hathman Place
Columbia, Missouri 65201
Click here to make an online donation
How do I apply?
Download the application (below) and mail, fax or email to:
Governor's Council on Disability
Missouri Youth Leadership Forum
P.O. Box 1668
Jefferson City, Missouri 65201-1668
(Fax) 573-526-4109
gcd@oa.mo.gov
2012 Misouri Youth Leadership Forum Application Application deadline extended to May 1
Who Sponsors the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum?
The Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is sponsored by the Governor's Council on Disability and Services for Independent Living.
Click here to visit SIL's Missouri Youth Leadership Forum page or to make a donation to the program.
The following documents provide an educational tool for recruiting youth delegates to attend the annual Missouri Youth Leadership Forum for students with disabilities, to be held July 22-25, 2012 at the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Missouri Youth Leadership Forum Brochure
Slide Shows from previous Missouri Youth Leadership Forums
2009 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum video (wmv)
2008 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum Slide Show
2007 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum Slide Show